Cycling in Kufsteinerland - Austria's newest gem?

The Kufsteinerland region is slightly less known in the Netherlands and Belgium than, for example Innsbruck, Ötztal and Worthersee in Carinthia. This region in Tyrol, just across the border with southern Germany offers plenty for the novice and experienced road cyclist. You can ride well uphill, but also wonderfully along the waters of the Inn. And with now six new 'bed&bike' accommodations, your cycling holiday can't go wrong. Cycling in Kufsteinerland is great fun!

Starting point Kufstein

If you take the overnight train from the Netherlands to Innsbruck goes, then Kufstein is the first station in Austria that you visit. This town is the starting point for a number of cool routes, where you can make plenty of altimeters, but where you can also cycle stretches that are relatively flat. For the real enthusiasts, there is a nice 149km lap, most of which runs over the 2018 World Cup course.

World Cup course

If you think Innsbruck only had the World Cup, you are wrong. The start of the men's race was in Endach, actually a front village/town of Kufstein. From Kufstein, you can first go a bit flatter along the river Inn (which already flows here).With a stunning backdrop, including the peaks of the Pendling and the Hohe Salve, immediately offer that Austria feeling. 

From the city, you can quickly take the quieter roads, which lead through the alpine meadows to Schwoich and Bad Häring. Then you grab the quiet side streets of the Inntal and, once you reach Hall in Tirol, turn around again via Rattenberg, Schönau and Langkampfen.

In the end, you are 1400 altimeters up and you also rode (part of) the World Cup course!

Wilder Kaiser & more

Want to cool down in summer? Then you can also take a scenic route to the Hintersteiner See. Mind you, the route there has a really vicious climb of about three kilometres. Beware, you won't get below 10% for a kilometre here. If you arrive here with the wrong gearing, it will be raking to the top. So make sure you have a mountain gear stabs.

Which is then a plus: you have a great view of the Wilder Kaiser. You can then make a short round trip and after a descent via Scheffau, Bocking and eventually Schwoich back home. Want to really extend it? Then drive almost towards Reith near Kitzbuhl (this really is a panorama route) and when you get to the golf course, turn right. At Brixen im Thale, you then head towards the Filzalmsee. This is also a nice, challenging route, where the climb is another 4 kilometres of beating. It includes a few bits of bad road surface, but at the Filzalmsee you can cool off. One back again. 1800hm, 85km and then legs up!

Northern route

Towards the north and the border of Germany you can also get off brilliantly. How about a route over the Praschberg/Niederndorfberg. Five kilometres of climbing with stunning views and some nice hairpin turns. If you then go back over the Buchberg and make a lap around the Kaisergebirge via Walchsee and St Johan in Tirol, you have just over 80km of pure cycling enjoyment.

Kufsteinerland Radmarathon

Via the calendar of our friends from Cycloworld.cc we came upon this brilliant event. With different distances, from 124, 99 and 48km, there is something for everyone. Every year, the round is ridden around the first weekend of September. So there is still plenty of time and space to take part in it. You can find all the info via the calendar or directly via the site of the organiser.

Bed & Bike Region

The new gem. That was in the title. With the Bed & Bike certification, issued by the ADFC (German ANWB), this just became a reality, as no fewer than six new accommodations received this certification. The Bed & Bike certification stands for quality accommodation for cyclists. At least you know you're getting the following:

• As a cyclist, you can book for a single night
• There is a lockable bicycle cellar
• Drying room for clothes and equipment
• Well-equipped breakfast
• Information on local routes is available
• Basic repair kit is available

And now something extra: do you book at a Bed & Bike hotel? Then KOMOOT will give you the Kufsteinerland region and an adjacent region for free.

But where should I be?

You can find Bed & Bike destinations in the following locations

• Blue Canyon - Erl
• Genießergasthaus Beim Dresch - Erg
• Oberwirt - Ebbs
• Sattlerwirt - Ebbs
• Hotel Andreas Hofer - Kufstein 
• Das Sieben - Bad Häring

Route

See the route around the Kaisergebirge here. That's a great tip for when you're in the region.

How to get there

You can easily drive there by car. In about 10-11 hours, you will be in Kufstein. As mentioned earlier, you can also take the Nightjet pack from Amsterdam or Utrecht, in one go to your destination. Should you not suffer from flight embarrassment, you can fly to Munich and rent a car there.

For more information on the region go to the website of Kufsteinerland